It is often said that each and every cloud has a silver lining. Sometimes however, its difficult to at first glance recognize this. Because of this very same reason, I have learned to take time out after any "not so ideal" experience to gather my thoughts and compose myself.
This was the case after last Saturday's Country Music Half Marathon in Nashville.
I had been looking forward to this event for weeks. Not just because it has become one of my favorite annual races but because this year I was going to run it with both my daughters and my brother. Add to this the fact that I had been running at a pace I had never done in the past and I was looking forward to a spectacular race.
The weekend started in great form. Along with my wife and one of my daughters, we picked up my brother Hernando at the airport and headed to pick up our race packet and to the expo. Neither experience disappointed. Both were organized with utmost professionalism, as usual.
Saturday morning's 4am alarm came quick. Got out of bed without hesitation and had breakfast. All my running gear had been left out the night before so this was smooth. Left the house en route to pick up my daughter Marcela, on the other side of Nashville.
Everything was going just as planned. The traffic was moving, the weather promised to be great. It was gong to be a fine race.
The crowds were gathering...all 31,000 runners were arriving. The feeling of excitement filled the air. It's always and experience like no other. The time was getting closer.
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| Mauricio, Juliana, Marcela and Hernando before Country Music Half Marathon |
From previous experience I learned that when you register for a race like this, you claim your estimated finish time about 30 minutes faster that you actually think you're going to finish. This in order to get assigned a corral closer to the front.
Two reasons for this. One, the wait is not as long. Two, you have a chance of establishing your tempo a lot quicker due to the fact that you're not racing behind folks who may be a little (or a lot) slower than you, or maybe even behind walkers. This is extremely important if you want to run with a time in mind. This year, I did.
Some thirty five minutes before the start of the race I had the urge to visit the restroom (porta-potties, if you will). This is where it all started going downhill. The lines were so stinking long that by the time we made it out and into the race course, we started somewhere around corral no. 22! That's 14 corrals behind where we were supposed to be. Note to self: Next time... go behind a tree!
I had been hit with a severe bout of stomach flu earlier in the week. As early as Friday morning I was still feeling the effects from it. I had been totally dehydrated but worked diligently to recover from this in time for the race. As I crossed the starting line my only thought was that I hope I had done enough. We would see.
The first mile or so, the pace was slow, but I was okay with it because it was right within my plan. Little did I know that this pace would not get much better as the race went on. Not so much because I couldn't step it up, but because it was impossible to step it up. Impossible due to the tremendous crowd. Wall to wall runners, joggers, speed walkers and walkers. At times, even zig-zagging was an issue. It never got any better.
As the miles started piling up, I kept watching my estimated goal time of 1:59:59 go by the way side. And as this began to happen, I began to stress. "How could I let this happen" I kept thinking. "This can't be, I must speed up, crank it up, rev it up." I would find a glimpse of daylight and I would take it, would run right through it only to find another wall. Another human wall. Here we go again. And again. And again.
Frustration was setting in quick. Around mile 6, I remember thinking "It's now or never". As it turns out, it was Never. More people, every where... people.
And so it came, mile 9. The wheels officially fell off. I had nothing left and at this point I realized that my goal was not going to happen today, that it was time just to enjoy the rest of the run. And that I did.
The last half mile or so, I watched as everyone around me was passing me, everyone had left a little in their tank for their final push. Except me. At this point, it didn't matter.
I made it through. Picked up my medal which weighed heavy around my neck. And then the"bottleneck". Whoever designed this chute is out of their mind. After running a marathon or a half marathon you can't ask people to just "stop", and that's what they did. This is/was insane. This will have to be addressed. I've heard of several people that almost lost it at that point.
So all's not lost, hence the silver lining in the story. Several lessons were learned on Saturday, but most importantly, I learned that...
For me, I will never go into a race, of any kind, of any distance again, with a specific time "goal" in mind. For five years I have done just fine with "I will run my race, I will do my best, I will be happy with my effort." I will go back to that.
I learned that no matter what happens during a race, the most important thing is to smile, be happy and enjoy. I will go back to that.
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| Hernando, Mauricio, Marcela, Juliana and Colton after Country Music Half Marathon |
Next on my schedule is Ironman 70.3 Florida at Lake Eva Park near Haynes City Florida. This race is on May 20th. That's right, just 20 days away!
